Wagon-elevator.



No. 870,899. I PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907. E. H. OVERHOLT.

WAGON ELEVATOR. APPLICATION NLRB 001e, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Dl ITNEEEIEE in: mmms rzrlRs co., wAsnmcroN, n. c.

PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

E. H. OVERHOLT. WAGON ELEVATOR.

ABPLIOATION FILED 001. e. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- M/JTNEEEE EDWARD H. OVERHOLT, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

WAGON-ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed October 6, 1906- Sorial No.. 337.'778.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, EDWARD H. OVERHOLT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Wagon-Elevator, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to wagon elevators, and particularly to that classor type thereof which are employed for raising the forward end of thewagon, whereby the, contents thereof will, upon the end-gate ortailboard being raised or removed, by gravity automatically fall orslide from the wagon-box or body into a hopper or like receiver, fromwhich said contents are transported'by an elevator to a place ofstorage. Heretofore objections have been found in the employment of suchdevices, such objections being that they were of such size and suchconstruction as to be difficult of transportation from place to place,inconvenient to handle, that they were expensive because of too muchmechanism and material, that they required too much space, thatonaccount of their height they could not be used in-corn-cribs orstorage-barns provided with low rafters or ceilings, that the cost ofproduction has been such that they were not readily salable, that theycould. not be used in narrow driveways, that they couldinot beconveniently shipped or freighted without being knocked'down or takenapart, that it has heretofore been generally necessary to provide anelevated platform uponwhich the front wheels of the wagon might bedriven, and that in elevators or hoists ofthe classor type hereinreferred to and hcreinafter considered,-such being those which hoist theforward. end of the wagon by means of a chain or like expedient adaptedto engage the hubs of the front wheels thereof-it has been necessary toprovide an overhead mechanism.

To the end of overcoming these objections the principal objects of myinvention are to produce a device which is of such size and constructionthat it is of light weight andwhile durable and strong, is economic ofmanufacture, readily handled, capable of being taken into narrow and lowroofed driveways, which may be folded for the purposes of shipment orfor local transportation, into a small compass, one in which i nelevated platform or driveway is not required for the wagon wheels, andin which the posts of the jack or derrick are ofless height than the topof the wagon boxor body 'when elevated.

Subsidiary objects of the invention will presently appear.

To theend of carrying out these principal objects of my invention, itconsists in certain novel features ofconstiuction and combinations ofparts, as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in theclaims hereto appended. The preferred construction of parts andarrangement thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a-perspective; Fig. 3, anelevation of the operating mechanism, seen from the central line, 17, ofthe device, and Fig. 4, a detail of the clutch.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals, the same one indicating thesame part in the different figures, 1 represents a low base or platformcomprising substantially parallel longitudinal members 2 spaced adistance apart for a purpose hereinafter described. which members areheld rigid by cross bars 3 at their ends. Fixed to the platform members2 longitudinally thereof are cleats 4 to which are pivoted converging.normally upright bars 5 united at their upper ends by cross pieces 6 towhich are bolted or otherwise securcdkeepers 7 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed At each end of the platform a standard 8 is hinged at 9 to oneof the sills or crossbars 3 and its upper end projects loosely throughth' keeper 7. A pin 10, preferably provided with means for re'adilygrasping it, is, when the wagon is being, and is elevated, and thusheld, projected through an orifice registering through the keeper andstandard and extending into the cross-piece 6 for a purpose which willpresently be described.

Mounted on and supported by the cross pieces 6 are journal brackets 11in pairs, in the bearings of which are seated journals 12 carryingpulleys 13 which are traversed by a hoist-chain 14 provided at each endwith hub-loops 15.

16 represents a pulley fixed to a leg of one of the bars 5.

Astride the longitudinal opening 17, which is for the passage of thehoisting-chain 14, and near each end thereof are brackets 18, in thebearings of each of which is mounted a sheave 19 below which said chainpasses.

To a sill and one end of a member 2 of the base 1 is fixed in anypreferred manner a duplex bracket comprising a horizontal base 20 andvertical walls 21. In suitable bearings in this bracket is seated thedriveshaft 22, either end of which is adapted for engagement with asource of motive power, for instance, the tumbling-rod of a horse-power.v

The train of gear shown at Fig. 3 serves a double purpose, the firstbeing to increase or accelerate the lifting power of the device, and thesecond being to raise the forward end of the wagon at such degree ofregulated speed that the contents thereof will be discharged at a rateequal to the capacity of the elevator. Fixed to or integral with theshaft 22 is a master pinion 23 which meshes with a spur 24 looselymounted on a shaft 25.

Integral with the spur 24 is a pinion 26 which meshes I with a spur 27loosely mounted on a shaft 28. Integral with thespur 27 is a pinion 29which meshes in a spur 30 fixed to a winding drum 31 to which one end ofthe hoisting chain is fixed. The drum 31 is mounted on a shaft 31 oneend of which is seated in the bracket 21 and the other end attached to aportion of the platform or in any preferred and suitable place.

The master pinion is geared with relation to the spur 24 as about 1 to3, the latter spur driving its integral pinion 26, which is in relationthereto as 3 to 1; and said pinion 26 driving the spur 27 in aratio of 1to 3, said spur 27 driving the pinion 29 in a ratio of 3 to 1, saidpinion 29 driving the spur 1 revolution to 27 of the pinion 23. The drum31 is about one-third the circumference of the'spur 30, thus giving alifting power of about 81 times that normally transmitted from themaster pinion.

Integral with the master pinion is a clutch member 32 provided on itsperiphery with ratchets 33. Loosely mounted on the shaft 25 is a pawl34. Mounted by means of a feather 35 on the main shaft 22 is anotherclutch member, 36. Fulcmmed on a bracket 37 is a lever 38, the lower endof which constitutes a brake-shoe 39 to contact the clutch member 32 andnear its upper end is provided with a rod 40, the distal end of whichconnects with a pawl 34, the other end of which is carried by the shaft25. Fulcrumed at 42 is a lever 43 provided with a sleeve 44 whichengages the clutch member 36 to throw it in or out of gear with itsfellow.

The operation is as follows: A team of horses being driven across thenarrow platform 2, will be stopped with the front wheels of the wagonresting on the points 2, the clutch members being in operativeconnection. The draft animals being then detached from the wagon, theloops 15 will thereupon be placed about the hubs of the front wheelsthereof, whereupon the op erator will start the power, whether horse orotherwise, it being applicable for attachment to the shaft 22, which ashereinbefore stated may be attached from either side of the device. Thepower being further applied, the forward wheels of the wagon and therebythe front end of the body will by means of the hoist chains in anevident manner be raised to any desired height to dump its containedload into the hopper, it now being understood that the power may beapplied at any desired speed. The required height or elevation beingarrived at, the source of power stopped andthe load having been dumpedinto the hopper, it becomes desirable to return the wagon to a normalposition. The operator will then, by releasing the lever 38 also releasethe brake-shoe 39 which contacts the member 32 and by the same operationthrow the pawl out of engagement with the wheel 33. The weight of thewagon on the hoist chain 14 will cause the latter to be wound about theWindlass or drum 31 to cause the gear hereinbefore described to revolvein a direction contrary to that last described.

To a certain extent the mechanical advantages of the present inventionhave been set forth in connection with the statement of the purposes andobjects thereof and the detail description of the mechanism; butconcisely stated, the leading benefits secured thereby are as follows:

First: Because of the fact that the legs of the derrick may be foldedoutwardly, the hubs of the wagon may pass through the space heretoforeoccupied by them. A much narrower driveway may therefore be utilized.

Second: Because of its being foldable, it may be shipped or freightedwithout being knocked down or taken apart.

Third: An elevated platform on which the front wheels of the wagon aresupported is dispensed with.

Fourth: In the type of device herein shownthat in which a chain hoistfor-the hubs is employedan overhead mechanism has heretofore beenindispensable, but is not required in the one herein shown anddesciibed. 1

Fifth. It is lighter and more portable than any other.

Sixth: It is more economic of manufacture than any other.

Seventh: It is simpler in construction, and therefore easier ofmanipulation than any other.

Eighth: It may be employed in cribs or barns having very low rafters orceilings.

Having thus described my invention and set forth its merits, what Iclaim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wagon elevator including a base, bars pivoted there to at each endthereof and adapted to fold longitudinally thereof in either direction,and a single means traversing said bars and base for supporting one endof a wagon.

2. A wagon elevator including a base, independently foldable barspivoted thereto at each end thereof, and a single means traversing saidbars for supporting one end of a wagon.

3. A wagon elevator including a platform, bars pivoted thereto at eachend thereof and adapted to fold longitudinally thereof in eitherdirection, and means traversing said bars and platform for supportingone end of a wagon.

4. A wagon elevator including an elongated base upon which a wagon isadapted to be drawn transversely thereof, bars pivoted at each end ofthe base and adapted to fold in directions toward or from the sides ofthe wagon, and means traversing said bars for supporting one end of awagon.

5. A wagon elevator including an elongated base upon which a wagon isadapted to be drawn transversely thereof, bars pivoted at each end ofthe base and adapted to fold in directions toward or from the sides ofthe wagon, and means traversing said bars for supporting one end of awagon, its other end being adapted to rest on the ground.

6. In wagon elevators including -a platform, derrick members pivotedthereto at each end thereof and adapted to fold longitudinallyv thereofin either direction.

7. In a wagon elevator, at base, converging bars pivoted thereto at eachend thereof and adapted to fold thereon and therefrom, means for holdingsaid bars in upright positions, and a single means traversing said barsfor elevating one end of a wagon.

8. In awagon elevator, a base, converging bars pivoted thereto at eachend thereof and adapted to fold thereon and therefrom, standards hingedto said base and keepers for engaging them with said bars to normallysupport them in upright positions.

9. In a wagon elevator, a base, converging bars pivoted thereto at eachend thereof and adapted to fold thereon and therefrom, standards hingedat the ends of said base, keepers for removably engaging their upperends with said bars, pulleys positioned at the upper ends of the bars, adrum, and a chain fixed thereto, its extremities traversing saidpulleys.

10. In a wagon elevator, a base, converging bars pivoted thereto at eachend thereof and adapted to fold thereon and therefrom, standards hingedat the ends of said base, keepers for removably engaging their upperends with said bars, pulleys positioned at the upper ends of the bars, adrum, 2. chain fixed thereto, its extremities traversing said pulleys,and means for driving said drum from either side of the platform.

11. In a wagon elevator, a base, converging bars pivoted thereto andadapted to fold thereon and therefrom, means for normally supportingthem in upright positions, pulleys positioned at the upper ends of thebars, a drum, a chain fixed thereto, its extremities traversing saidpulleys, and a multiplying gear driving said drum.

12. In a wagon elevator, a base, converging bars pivoted thereto andadapted to fold thereon and therefrom, means for normally supportingthem in upright positions, pulleys positioned at the upper ends of thebars, a drum, a chain fixed thereto, its extremities traversing saidpulleys, and a multiplying gear driving said drum, said gear includingclutch members.

13. In a wagon elevator, a base, converging bars pivoted thereto andadapted to fold thereon and therefrom, means for normally supportingthem in upright positions, pulleys positioned at the upper ends of thebars, a drum, a chain fixed thereto, its extremities traversing saidpulleys, and a multiplying gear driving said drum and including clutchmembers and a brake.

14. In an elevator, the combination with a base, of folding bars pivotedthereto at each end thereof, pulleys positioned on said bars, a windingdrum mounted on said bars, and a hoisting chain fixed to said drum andadapted to traverse said pulleys.

15. A gear for wagon elevators including clutch members, means for.throwing them into and out of engagement, a ratchet wheel, a pawladapted to engage the teeth thereof, a brake shoe adapted to contactsaid teeth, and a lever uniting said shoe and pawl.

16. In combination in a device of the character described, a base, aderrick comprising a plurality of sections adapted to fold thereon andtherefrom, other means hinged to the base for normally supporting saidderrick sections in upright positions and a keeper fixed to said meanswhereby said hinge means may be detached from said sections.

17. In a device of the character described and in combination, a base, aderrick supported thereby, said derrick comprising sections located atthe ends of the base, means hinged at said base for normally supportingsaid derrick in a substantially vertical position, and means fixed tosaid derrick whereby the supporting means may be slidably securedthereto.

18. In a device of the character described and in combination, a baseincluding parallel longitudinal members spaced apart, pulleys unitingsaid members, a derrick comprising converging bars, the members of saidderrick pivoted to said base to told one upon the other, pulleyssurmounting said derrick, means for retaining said derrick members innormally upright positions, a drum, -a chain fixed thereto its endsadapted to traverse said last named pulleys and its median portions totraverse the pulleys on the base, and means for imparting motion to saiddrum.

19. In a device of the character described and in combination, a baseincluding parallel longitudinal members spaced apart, pulleys unitingsaid members, a derrick comprising converging bars, the members of saidderrick pivoted to said base to told one upon the other, pulleyspositioned on said derrick, means for retaining said derrick members innormally upright positions, a drum, a chain fixed thereto, its endsadapted to traverse said last named pulleys and its median parts totraverse the pulleys on the base, means for imparting movement to saiddrum, means for stopping said motion, and means for throwing saidstarting and stopping means in and out of gear.

In witness \vherof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD H. OVERHOLT.

Witnesses:

L. M. RICHARDS, .T, H. Minnnn.

